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Blinx Brings Fresh Storytelling & News To Middle Eastern Youth
The digital media hub aims to connect and empower Gen Z and Millennial viewers across a range of platforms.
Blinx, the Middle East’s new digital media hub, aims to empower Gen Z and Millennial viewers using digital storytelling and news stories across a range of platforms and devices.
Since being announced in March 2023, Blinx has been on a mission to deliver the most authentic narratives and culturally relevant content to young Middle Easterners.
Nakhle Elhage, General Manager of Blinx, explained: “We’ve made remarkable strides since our brand name announcement. The launch of Blinx is not just about compelling content creation. It’s a digital media powerhouse that promotes storytelling excellence in a myriad of genres like entertainment, infotainment, news, business, lifestyle, sports, self-development, climate change, and more. Our Smart TV App also offers exclusive long-form content such as investigative journalism, talk shows, and live broadcasts”.
The MENA region currently has one of the highest youth unemployment rates in the world, at over 26%. Blinx already employs around 150 young professionals, helping to buck the negative trend while simultaneously offering a voice to the disaffected youth. “Content creators and creative storytellers are on a mission to shift perspectives,” Elhage said. “Not only are they talented and bold, but they also embody the youth’s energy, dynamism, and resourcefulness that is Blinx”.
Blinx is headquartered in Dubai’s Media City. The company has already doubled in size since its launch and now boasts a wealth of cutting-edge technology in its production facility. Alongside state-of-the-art VR technology, Blinx also has the capability to create Metaverse and extended reality content and is also trialing AI tools alongside advanced analytics.
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“Technology is designed to transport audiences beyond traditional storytelling, pushing the limits of innovation, news, information, data, and others,” said Fadi Radi, Blinx’s Chief Creative Officer. “Our featured stories cater to tech-savvy youth, offering a blend of entertainment and insightful inspiration. End-users can effortlessly swipe through stories, engaging with content creators and peers”.
News
UAE Prepares To Launch Two Satellites: Thuraya-2 And MBZ-SAT
HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum chaired the first meeting of the Supreme Space Council yesterday.
HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, chaired the first meeting of the Supreme Space Council in Dubai on December 16, 2024. The session highlighted the UAE’s ambitious space plans and took stock of the sector’s economic progress.
The council emphasized the growing role of private companies in advancing space technologies, noting that their contributions are now equal to that of the public sector. Members also praised initiatives like the Space Economic Zones Programme, which are designed to fuel innovation and investment in the space industry.
خلال ترؤسنا الاجتماع الأول للمجلس الأعلى للفضاء، بحثنا الاستثمارات الوطنية والمشاريع المقبلة في قطاع الفضاء والذي يشهد تطوراً مستمراً… وجددنا التزامنا بدعم ومواصلة تنفيذ برامج طموحة لاستكشاف الفضاء الخارجي حيث وصل حجم الاستثمارات في هذا القطاع إلى 40 مليار درهم خلال السنوات… pic.twitter.com/etJ33OnuSu
— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) December 16, 2024
Discussing the UAE’s space journey, HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum remarked, “The national space sector continues to grow and advance, and we take immense pride in the remarkable achievements we have accomplished over the years”.
Sheikh Hamdan also received updates on two upcoming satellite projects: Thuraya-2 and MBZ-SAT. Thuraya-2, developed by Space42, is slated for launch this December. Meanwhile, the MBZ-SAT, created by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), will soon follow. MBRSC, a major driver of the UAE National Space Programme, continues to lead the nation’s space-related developments.
Space42 took the opportunity to showcase its advancements, including ongoing collaborations between public and private entities. The company also outlined strategies to promote innovation, boost revenue streams, and create new opportunities for growth in the sector.
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The UAE’s current projects build on a growing legacy of space exploration. Back in 2020, the nation made headlines with its Mars mission, successfully sending a probe into the planet’s orbit in 2021. This mission, which is now in its second phase as of June 2024, has been collecting critical data to develop a comprehensive diurnal image of Mars.
The UAE also ventured into lunar exploration with an unmanned mission aimed at studying untouched regions of the Moon’s surface. While the probe ultimately crashed during its landing attempt after communication was lost seconds before touchdown, the effort represented a significant step in the country’s exploration ambitions.